Cowboys prop Sam Hoare wants to show coach Paul Green why he should be playing in round one

COWBOYS prop Sam Hoare says his long-awaited NRL debut last year helped him “springboard” into this season with confidence.

NQ Cowboys training at 1300 Smiles Stadium before their home game against the Bulldogs. Joel Riethmuller and Sam Hoare. Picture: Wesley Monts

COWBOYS prop Sam Hoare says his long-awaited NRL debut last year helped him “springboard” into this season with confidence.

After years of being the Cowboys’ “Mr Patient”, the 23-year-old is determined not to waste a chance against the Broncos on Saturday to show coach Paul Green why he should be playing in Round 1.

Hoare has been named as starting prop in tonight’s trial in Mackay, and will partner former Bronco Ben Hannant in the Cowboys’ front row.

Cowboys players Sam Hoare and Cameron King try their hand at golf.

With fellow props Scott Bolton and James Tamou nearing fitness after off-season surgery, there’s no better time for Hoare to show he is up to the rigours of NRL football.

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The Rockhampton junior made his NRL debut against St George Illawarra in Round 17 last year and went on to play the next five games, bringing to an end a three-season wait for game time.

“Obviously I was in the squad for a while before I got the chance to debut and that’s part of being a front-rower at times,” he said.

“You’ve got to bide your time and I felt like I took my opportunity when I debuted last year. I’ll be looking to do the same (tonight).”

Hoare will be up against Broncos forwards Josh McGuire and Adam Blair in what shapes as a near NRL-strength fixture and said the experience of playing first grade gave him confidence he could get the job done.

“I feel a lot more confident around training and in my ability,” he said.

“That’s part of having those six games at the back-end of last year and I felt like it gave me a bit of a springboard into the pre-season.”

While he is up against three representative players and a club veteran to get a gig, Hoare said he was soaking up as much information as possible from his teammates while trying to push his own case for selection.

The Cowboys under-20s will play against Mackay Cutters in the curtain-raiser at Mackay Stadium on Saturday, with the Cowboys v Broncos trial starting at 7.30pm.